Category Archives: Applies Pesticides

Five Reasons Why it’s Okay to Love Oxalis

This is an updated reprint of a May 2015 article. As of 2023, eight years later, Natural Areas (now called “Natural Resource Areas”) are still being sprayed with powerful pesticides against oxalis. It’s still futile. ************** Five Reasons it’s Okay … Continue reading

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Oxalis and the Herbicide “solution”

This article is republished with permission from Conservation Sense and Nonsense, an environmental blog focused on the San Francisco Bay Area.   THE OXALIS OBSESSION As a long-time reader of Jake Sigg’s Nature News, I am very familiar with his … Continue reading

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Toxic Pesticides in Glen Canyon Park

It’s pesticide season in Glen Canyon Park, with one of the most toxic pesticides in use: Triclopyr. (This is the one that’s brand-named Vastlan.) The target plants are oxalis, as usual! And a new one – Sheep Sorrel. It’s actually … Continue reading

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Herbicide Time – Triclopyr in Glen Canyon

It’s January, and San Francisco is brightened by the yellow oxalis springing up on green hillsides. Less bright, though, is the usual Blights of Spring – herbicides applied in our parks where our kids and pups play. Here’s an idyllic … Continue reading

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EPA Acknowledges Herbicides Harm Wildlife

This article is republished with permission from the site, Conservation Sense and Nonsense. It points out that the Environmental Protection Agency has finally acknowledged what environmentalists have recognized (and nativists denied) – that herbicides are harmful to wildlife. They are … Continue reading

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Toxic Roundup Herbicide, Fruiting Blackberry

The SFRPD’ Natural Resources Department (NRD) is spraying toxic herbicides on Golden Gate Heights park. The pesticides being used are Roundup (glyphosate) and Polaris (imazapyr). Someone recently saw this notice: On the next visit, the sign indicated that the spraying … Continue reading

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We Need to Reduce Toxic Herbicide Use in San Francisco

This note is from Anastasia Glikshtern, an officer of San Francisco Forest Alliance and a long-time San Franciscan. Why We Need the San Francisco Toxic Herbicides Reduction Act Most San Francisco residents do not know that the city routinely uses … Continue reading

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Why Large-Scale Native Plant “Restoration” Cannot Work

This article discusses two approaches to native plant restoration. One creates jobs and provides healthy outdoor opportunities. The other poisons plants with synthetic chemicals. Neither actually works to restore native plants. Reprinted from Conservation Sense and Nonsense with permission and … Continue reading

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NRD Herbicide Use Shoots Up in 2020 in San Francisco

As we have been doing for many years now, we compiled the pesticide usage data  for San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department for 2020.  It’s getting worse year by year. Toxic herbicide use (i.e. herbicides classified as “More Hazardous” or … Continue reading

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Toxic Herbicide on Mt Davidson – Triclopyr on Oxalis

In June 2020, we reported that SFRPD was using a new version of an old toxic pesticide: Vastlan, with the active ingredient Triclopyr. (The same as in Garlon, which was the single most toxic herbicide they used.) Neighbor and videographer … Continue reading

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SF Rec & Parks Using a New (Old) Pesticide

One of our supporters reports the “Natural Resources Department” (NRD) of  the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (SFRPD) is using a new pesticide on Mt Davidson: Vastlan (from Dow). It’s being applied in a so-called “natural area” now named … Continue reading

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Pesticide Use Up in San Francisco Parks, Natural Areas – 2019

In 2019, SFRPD applied herbicides 243 times, the most since 2013. Of these, 144 applications were in “Natural Areas” (this includes PUC areas managed in the same way – i.e. use of toxic herbicides against plants they dislike). Though the … Continue reading

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Opposing Toxic Herbicide Use

San Francisco Forest Alliance is a 501(c)4 not-for-profit organization with a mission of Inclusive Environmentalism. We oppose the use of toxic pesticides in our parks, public lands, and watersheds. Here’s why. Herbicidal chemicals are more toxic, more persistent, more mobile … Continue reading

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2018 Herbicides in San Francisco: NRD Use Rises (Again)

For many years now, we have been obtaining and compiling monthly pesticide use reports from San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (SFRPD).  This is our report for 2018. Our analysis omits Harding Park, which is under contract to the PGA … Continue reading

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Vote NO on Measure FF!!

San Francisco Forest Alliance supported The Forest Action Brigade in opposing Measure FF. This article, republished here with permission from Death of a Million Trees (a website/ blog opposing unnecessary tree destruction and pesticide use) , outlines why it’s important … Continue reading

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Native Plant “Restorations” Continue to Use Toxic Herbicides

We have long opposed the use of toxic pesticides in our parks and watersheds. The article below, published in Death of a Million Trees, illustrates some of the issues. It’s republished here with permission and minor changes.   DIGGING IN: … Continue reading

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No Pesticides in Our Parks and Watersheds

Below is the text of a letter San Francisco Forest Alliance sent yesterday to the Environment Commission and the SF Department for the Environment. We stand for no toxic pesticides in our parks and watersheds.   To: Director Deborah Raphael, … Continue reading

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Herbicide Use by San Francisco Natural Resource Department Rises Sharply in 1H 2018

The Natural Resources Department’s low-pesticide-usage honeymoon is over, judging by the pesticide usage data from the first half of 2018. If this continues in the second half, NRD will end the year at nearly the level of pesticide use in … Continue reading

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Oakland’s Vegetation Management Plan – Our Comment (Deadline 11 June 2018)

Oakland’s Vegetation Management Plan is to cut down thousands of trees and use toxic pesticides to prevent resprouting. If you wish to comment, the deadline is June 11, 2018. Send your email to VMPcomments@oaklandvegmanagement.org We’ve published a brief comment here … Continue reading

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Why a NO vote on AB 2470 (June 2018 election)

AB 2470, “Invasive Species” is a bill to “establish the Invasive Species Council of California, composed as prescribed, to help coordinate a comprehensive effort to exclude invasive species already established in the state. The bill would establish a California Invasive … Continue reading

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